There were no delays. I almost lost my connection because of the new EES system
It was a game of hurry up and wait. As advised we arrived at the terminal e hours prior to boarding. We waited about 45 minutes before anyone showed up at the check-in terminal. When someone does arrive she rearranges the line and we think we are going to be checked in. Nope. She leaves and we wait another 15 min. before anyone else shows up. One person got behind her computer and about 15 min later started to check the first person in . Then one more person arrives spends 10-15 behind the desk and then she starts checking in someone. Two more staff arrive and another 10 min or so they are ready to begin checking in people. We have a 11:50 international flight and it is 9:45. And then on of the agents, closes her desk and leaves. And every leg of our flight was delayed; we waited at terminals, we waited to take off, we waited to deplane. After arriving in Porto within 10min of our connection schwduled to take off, we were told to go to the last bus. We waited on the bus (until all the other busses had left) and then we waited another 10 min or so for one of the ground controllers who wanted a ride with us but was busy with a woman who needed the handicap van. He did not help her to the van, but was standing with her and talking with hher. We were rushed through border control and told not to wait for the rest of our party only to get on the plane and then have to wait another 45 min before we were cleared for take off. The waits were not 10 or 20 minutes, they were 35-55 minute waits each time. Miraculously, we made it back only 2 1/2 hours later than we we were originally scheduled. Given the nonchalance and seaming disinterest from many of the staff, I was expecting that we would not get on until much later than that.
On the seat map for this flight with TAP was shown a business class configuration of 2 rows/8 seats. To my surprise, 4 rows/24 seats being the middle is kept empty, old European type. I chose seat 2F, the the leg room economy dimension. This is not what I paid for. Disappointed!
Boarding felt a little chaotic as everyone was waiting around the gate. Food was great, service was good.
The flight crew were absolute rock stars. When they came to the gate they looked like royalty, so chic. They also were extremely kind. Food was good and I loved the lack of plastic waste. The flight was lovely and smooth.
Delayed at the beginning and the end and almost missed our connection
Menzies group staff not very sympathetic good at breaking up families during the boarding process
The crew was great. There was a big guy sitting next to me who was hanging over my side of the armrest the entire time. Maybe some information about "Be considerate of your neighbors, this is tight space, be kind". The breakfast sandwich was not appealing at all.
Absolutely unacceptable level of service for a Business class: lousy drink and food options, disgusting food (inedible meat, watery rice, etc...), pathetic level of attentiveness from staff, Business class restrooms were not accessible for long periods because blocked of by staff...overall extremely disappointing, will NEVER fly Business on TAP again.
It was a good experience overall. We were however delayed by over 3 hours due to a security issue with one of the passengers inadvertently leaving a power bank in a luggage she was using as carrying on but then had to be moved int check in due to spacing issues. The airline staff had requested that she checked her bags in, but should have reminded her about removing all hazardous material like her power bank. When she eventually remembered as we were on the plane, we had to turn back and go through security all over again. Hence delaying our takeoff. The incident could have been prevented if staff reminded these passengers to remove their power banks.
